_A Letter mandatory from a man to his wife._
Good wife, considering my hasty departure from you and my children, my hope is that you wil haue that louing and respectiue care towards them and your familie, that appertaineth. I haue left many things raw by reason of the suddennes of my iourney, which standeth vpon your good regard to be ordered, as namely the charge of my seruantes, and disposition of some other affaires and businesse. You shall nowe shewe your selfe a carefull and discreete wife, if in mine absence, you will a little take vpon you to be in my place. Regard and consider with your selfe, that seruants are negligent and carelesse, and if the maister forget his owne profit, they are as readie as others to share with his gaines. Your painfull attendance to ouerlooke them, shal straine their labours to my vsing, your desire to see into them, shall worke their vsage to my well seruing. You must now a little while forget neighbourhood, and walking for company, considering the old prouerbe: That when the Cat is away the mouse wil go play: If master and dame haue both continued absence, seruants fall a wasting, and do what they list. You know good wife, I haue now taken a great charge of late vpon me, which with some carefull looking to, may turne to good, let it not be grieuous vnto you, nor thinke it hard, that I thus make you partaker of my charge, as I do of my profit. For we are yoke fellowes you know, and the charge is equall betwixt vs to be borne and supported. If as louing mates and companions wee drawe forth togethers, we doubtlesse shall by Gods blessed goodnes see the fruits of our labours. Our children shall participate with vs of our trauels, and God shal prosper our endeuours. And howbeit good wife, I haue alwaies found you such, as of whose care to my well doing I neede haue no doubt, yet if by the importance of my charge I bee driuen thus much to write vnto you, thinke that in great trust of your modesty, respect of your loue, & zeale to both our goods I haue done the same. And though no mistrust remaine of any one about me: yet doe I put you in minde what youth by too much sufferance and neglegct of libertie may be inclined to. This is al I would, and so much I hope as you gladly will yeelde vnto. Commend mee manie times to your selfe and likewise to all our friendes. From R. this third of Maie, &c.